INEC Publishes Final Candidates List, Omits Pantami, Adebutu, Gwarzo

By: Tunji Okunlola

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections. Its omission of prominent opposition figures has drawn mixed reactions.

Those missing include former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu; and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo.

The Ogun PDP accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of pressuring INEC to exclude its candidate, while Pantami’s camp urged supporters to remain calm. Gwarzo, a former Deputy Governor of Kano, has yet to react. Meanwhile, supporters of politicians whose qualifications were questioned after a recent Supreme Court ruling celebrated as their names appeared on the list.

Who Made the List

INEC published the names of candidates for the presidential, governorship and National Assembly elections on its website on Saturday, a significant step in preparations for the 2027 polls.

Prominent names on the list include:

• President Bola Tinubu (APC)
• Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (African Democratic Congress, ADC)
• Peter Obi (NDC)
• Omoyele Sowore (African Action Congress)
• Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde (Allied Peoples Movement, APM)

The list covers governorship candidates in 26 states: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Rivers and Zamfara.

The omissions of some candidates name have drawn attention to disputes over party primaries and the legal requirements for nominating candidates, especially after a Supreme Court judgment on the conditions parties must meet in selecting candidates. It was not immediately clear whether the omissions were linked to that judgment or to other issues with the nominations.

Gombe: Pantami Missing

Pantami, the PDP’s governorship candidate in Gombe State, is absent from the list. He emerged as candidate in a fresh primary after a court invalidated his earlier nomination.

The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe had nullified his initial emergence and ordered a fresh primary, after a suit filed by Usman Garry. Garry argued that the PDP announced Pantami as its candidate on June 26, 2026, without conducting a valid primary, in violation of its guidelines and electoral laws. In her judgment, Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed directed the party to conduct a fresh primary.

The PDP held the rerun on Tuesday across the 114 wards in the state’s 11 local government areas. Pantami won with 2,024 votes, ahead of former House of Representatives member Khamisu Mailantarki (389 votes) and former Gombe State House of Assembly member Usman Aliyu Garry (112 votes).

Despite this, neither Pantami’s name nor the PDP appears on INEC’s list for Gombe. The commission listed Bala Bello (ADC), Ardo Kumo (NDC) and Gwamna Isyaku (APC).

The spokesperson for the Pantamiyya Movement, Professor Suleiman Mohammed, urged supporters to stay calm in a statement shared on Pantami’s Facebook account. “This is a temporary challenge and a normal part of the electoral process, not a final determination, in sha Allah,” the statement read. It did not say what legal or administrative steps the camp intends to take.

Ogun: PDP Alleges Pressure on INEC

In Ogun State, the PDP accused the APC of putting undue pressure on INEC to exclude Adebutu, alleging that the ruling party feared losing the governorship election. The allegation was made in a statement by the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, who urged residents and supporters not to panic.

The party maintained that Adebutu remains its duly nominated candidate and expressed confidence that INEC would eventually publish his name. It said he registered as a member within the stipulated period, obtained a printed membership card, was verified and submitted the required information to INEC before the deadline.

“The public should be informed that the omission of our candidate’s name in INEC’s list is as a result of the undue pressure mounted by the ruling party on INEC out of fear of losing the election,” the statement said.

Adebutu’s running mate, Alhaja Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, is also missing, as is the Accord Party candidate, Alhaji Olaniyi Agbongboakala.

The list includes 13 governorship candidates for Ogun, among them Solomon Adeola (Yayi) of the APC, Jimi Lawal of the ADC, Babajide Rotimi of the APM, Adenuga Adekunle of the Boot Party and Akinbola Rotham of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

Supreme Court Ruling and Defection Questions

On September 24, 2026, a seven-member Supreme Court panel, in a unanimous judgment by Justice Adamu Jauro, upheld an appeal by INEC. It restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which the Court of Appeal had earlier invalidated. The case arose from a suit by the Zenith Labour Party challenging the provisions’ constitutionality.

Under the restored provisions:

• Only members whose names appear in a party’s membership register, submitted to INEC at least 21 days before a primary, congress or convention, may take part.
• Parties must use the submitted register, and failure to submit it on time bars a party from fielding candidates.
• Section 84(2) provides for nomination through direct primaries or consensus.

The ruling raised questions about politicians who switched parties shortly before their primaries, including Kingsley Chinda, Ovie Omo-Agege and Victor Ochei. The Supreme Court did not expressly disqualify any of them, so the validity of their nominations depends on compliance with the legal requirements.

Chinda, the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, made the list. So did Omo-Agege, a former Deputy Senate President contesting the Delta Central senatorial seat under the NDC, and Ochei, a former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, contesting the Delta North senatorial seat under the NDC.

Governorship Candidates in Selected States